Compare towns

Rye vs Kittery vs Hampton Falls vs Wolfeboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureRyeKitteryHampton FallsWolfeboro
People
Population
5,611
10,473Highest
2,328Lowest
6,571
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Lowest
20% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
Wolfeboro and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wolfeboro and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Kittery and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,655±$39k
74% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$94,375±$22k
17% above U.S.
Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
$772,600±$76k
132% above U.S.
$546,500±$60k
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$1,852±$475Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,531
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #2 of 120 in NH #17 of 133 in ME — #46 of 120 in NH
School district Rye School District Kittery Public Schools Hampton Falls School District Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town None in town Robert W Traip Academy None in town Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9Lowest
—
11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.